Private message to The Weasley Family and Alice Longbottom

[alt_bellatrix]

Your daughter/sister is in my Buckingham office. Her injuries have been healed and she is currently playing gobstones with my son.

I have an offer for you: the safe return of Ginny Weasley in return for my daughter.

Alice, I'm sure you will reject the idea out of hand. You've got much mileage out of Hydra's gifts, and it's plain that Ginny doesn't shoulder a role equal to Hydra's. To be frank: Ginny is more expendable to you than Hydra. Come to think of it, so was your own son.

Weasleys, you are left in the undesirable position of either convincing your leader to hand Hydra over, or finding a way to live with the knowledge that you left Ginny helpless, and in my hands.

Comments

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[alt_fred]

Goddammit.

Alice, Mum isn't reading her journal.

Do you want us to tell her, or will you?

I honestly don't know what she is going to say. But Bill and George and I don't believe she'd let Ginny come back to us alive, even if we gave her Hydra.

Which we won't.

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[alt_alice]

Fred, her message is meant to taunt. I will tell your mother that she is merely playing with us, and to not engage with her.

I suggest you do the same.

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[alt_fred]

Understood. Perfectly. Which is why I didn't reply publicly, as you'll notice.

None of us will. She can take her 'mercy' and choke on it.

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[alt_fred]

And I highly doubt Ginny's 'playing gobstones with Rigel.'

Honestly, how stupid does she think we are?!

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[alt_alice]

I will be attempting to engage in negotiation with Bellatrix. I'm choosing to do it where you can see, because I'd rather you learn about the options available directly than second hand through her. Please know we're exploring what limited options there are available to us, and this is one of them.

This bargaining will not be pleasant to read, I can imagine. I am sorry for causing you and your family more pain in the process. She will attempt to use whatever we give her, because she is desperate and an utter stranger to empathy, decency, and honour.

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[alt_molly]

Alice,

Thank you. I hope with all my heart that it works.

But I fear it won't. I would personally rend Bellatrix Lestrange limb from limb if I could to save my dear girl. But Arthur taught me chess. He taught all the children chess. We all understand that with war must come sacrifice, and we are clearly still at war.

Ginny is a soldier for the Order. She understood the risks, she assumed them willingly, and I won't insult her by saying she didn't, or by begging to be spared from the cost.

I'll be damned before I'll play into Bellatrix Lestrange's hands the way she wants. You have my support, and I know you have Ginny's too. We fight on from here. I know you'll do what you can try to save her. But if we lose Ginny....

Merlin help us, we'll fight on without her.

[alt_alice]

Your offer is meant to be an impossible one that we will be forced to refuse. You're only attempting to twist the knife further.

I'd rather stop with the games, Bellatrix.

[alt_bellatrix]

You keep telling yourself that. Perhaps the Weasleys are also convinced that my offer is a sham. It provides a good deal of psychological comfort to believe that particular narrative, after all - that there is no chance to save her, even as I am offering you one in earnest.

I have learned more about compromise in these last several weeks than I ever cared to know.

[alt_alice]

I cannot force Hydra to return to you against her will, nor would I want to. I would be willing to give you Maebh unharmed and alive in exchange for Ginny in similar condition, however.

[alt_bellatrix]

This is not a negotiation. It is a one time offer which you either refuse or accept.

[alt_alice]

Then your offer is refused.

Private message to Molly

[alt_bellatrix]

Just how many family members are you willing to lose?

I don't think you've ever fought for anything a day in your life.

Private message to Ron Weasley

[alt_bellatrix]

Your sister was the only one who never gave up on your brother Percy. Did you know that?

And there is some deeply buried resentment there for the rest of you. How quickly you give up, and give in.

It would appear her feelings on the matter are justified.

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[alt_ron]

Nice.

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[alt_ron]

I'm going to find a way to kill you. And the fact you don't think that's possible? That's an advantage on my side.

Mind you, I reckon I'll have to fight Hydra and the rest of the Order for the honours.